Improvement in fire-arms



F. D. NEWBURYQ Revolver.

NQ. 19, 32-7 Patented Feb. -9, 1858.

- rmunign Unir-n STATES ATENT OFFICE.

F. D. NEWBURY, OF ALBANY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO RIC/HARD V. DE WITT, JR., OF SAME PLAGE.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIRE-ARMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 9,327, dated February 9, 1858.

Fig. 2, a vertical section through the center ot' the operating mechanism; Fig. 3, a vertical section of the hammer; Fig. 4, a rear view of the face-plate with part ofthe machinery; Fig. 5, a diagram of the ratchet-wheel and lever; Fig. 6, a diagram to show the position of the machinery just at tiring.

Similar letters in all the iigures indicate the same parts of the apparatus.

A is the stock-framing of a gun or pistol, expanding into B, the frame, which contains within it the usual revolving cylinder, C, turning between the front bar of said frame and the tire-plate D upon steel axles, the rear one passing through the tire-plate and carrying in thel rear ot' and against the plate the ratchetwheel E. By this wheel the cylinder C is turned through the ratchet-lever G. This lever has a hooked head, shaped so as to t the spaces between the ratchet-teeth of the wheel, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The lever is made of spring-steel, and is guided in its movements by a pin, 1J, so placed that when the lever has brought the wheel E into its proper position for firing it shall rest againstit, so that while the lever remains stationary the wheel cannot be turned round, serving in this respect as lever and pawl both. This lever is operated by the projectinglimb H of the trigger T. The trigger is kept habitually with limb H in its upward position by the pressure upon its back limb J of the lower end ot the mainspring S. The mainsprin g is formed loop-wise, as shown in the drawings, and lies free in its place, its upper end pressing under the back limb K of the hammer L, so as habitually to keep the hammer down upon the cone, as shown in Fig. 2.

The hammer (see Fig. 3) has within a slot in its lower front angle adog,M, with its back end projecting a little backward and downward beyond the bottom of the hammer, and so fitted that when, as shown in Fig. 3, the hammer is resting upon the cone, it can be moved no farther downward without carrying the hammer with it; but it can rise a short space in the recess a when pressed upward.

Upon being released from its upward position it is restored to its habitual position by a small spring, b, attached to the front edge of the hammer. The trigger has a short upper limb, g,which, when thc machinery is not in motion, lies against the back end ot' dog M.

The ratchet-wheel E has a tooth for every cham ber in the cylinder in the drawing k5. Each chamber has itted to it, projecting from it, a primary cone, which lies in a recess sunk in the rear end ot' the cylinder, the recess having a small slit, S, on its outer edge to permit the gas and smoke from priming. to escape without the protrusion of fragments of the eX- ploded caps, the cone, recess, and slit being as exhibited in my patent for priming-cap guard, issued July 12, 1855.

The piece standing as shown in Fig. 2, with the hammer down and iu range externally with the upper line of the stock, the trigger projecting forward, the chambers are loaded and the cones capped in the usual manner. 'Upon the drawing of the trigger the pressure of the limb g against the end ot` the dog in the hammer throws the hammer upward, pressing its tail upon the upper end of the mainspriug S until it assumes the position shown in Fig. l, when g slips by the dog and the hammer falls upon the cone. During this movement of the trigger its forward limb has carried down the ratchet-lever, bringing the wheel with the cylinder into the proper position for lirin g, so that at the moment that the trigger slips by the dog the chamber and barrel are iu line, and are kept so by the relative form and operation ofthe lever and. ratchet-wheel teeth.

It must be noticed in reference to the action of the mainspring that at the moment before the drop of the hammer, in consequence ofthe approach of the back limbs of both hammer and trigger, it is at its greatest tension. Further, that as the trigger does not recede from its extreme back position till after the firing, y

the tension ol' the spring upon the hammer is kept up to near its maximum point at the Vest mechanical effect.

In reference t0 the action of the lever G upon the ratchet-wheel teeth, it will be noted that when the Wheel is in tiring position, as shown in Diagram 5, its head is pressed slightly ont of its natural position, which would be that shown by the dotted lines, and this its elastic stem of steel permits, and that when thelever is carried upward by the return action of the trigger, the head passing up beyond the tooth it rests against, springs overit,andis prepared to draw itdovvnward with the succeeding movement of the trigger.

Although the above improvements are specially applicable to revolvers, yet I do not intend to limit myself to that class of fire-arms, but to apply my invention to all cases to which it maybe applicable and prove advantageous.

I claim- 1. The mainsprin g S, arranged as described, to operate the hammer and trigger simultaneously Where the hammer is cocked by the trigger.

2. The ratchet-wheel, lever, and pin, in combination, arranged as described, so as to revolve the cylinder, and to hold 'it firmly in the act of ring.

3. The combination of the mainspring, trigger, ratchet-wheel, lever, and pin, for the purposeot cockin g the piece, revolving the cylinder, holding it in place, and tiring the piece by one movement of the nger upon the trigger, substantially as set forth in the Within specification.

F. D. NEWBURY.

Witnesses RICHD. VAN. R; Dn Wir'r, JOHN OGDEN Dm. 

